About the CSWA

The Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy was established in 1979 and consists of eight rotating members with 3-year terms. Our charge is to recommend to the AAS Council practical measures that can be taken to improve the status of women in astronomy and encourage their entry into this field. We have several print and electronic publications and have held two international meetings about the status of women in astronomy. We encourage you to look around, and to submit articles and items of interest about women in science and related topics. Women are especially urged to enter their information in the Women in Astronomy database, which can be used to search for colloquium or conference speakers and job applicants.

The Baltimore Charter and Pasadena Recommendations are documents produced as a result of the Women in Astronomy Meetings held in Baltimore in 1992 and Pasadena in 2003. The first document describes a code of conduct governing gender issues, particularly aimed at U.S. institutions, while the latter document is a set of recommendations for institutions hoping to achieve true gender equity. The links to the individual documents and meetings provide much more information.

The President of the AAS and the Chairperson of the CSWA have asked that astronomical institutions formally endorse the Pasadena Reccomendations. Your institution can do so by going to the endorsement page located here, and following the instructions contained within.

What's New:

June 17, 2008 - A page for endorsements of the Pasadena Reccomendations is available here. Institutions are encouraged to make an endorsement.

October 2, 2007 - A brochure, summarizing the Pasadena Reccomendations, is now available for download here.

September 1, 2007 - The full contents of STATUS from January 1996 onward can now be seen here.

June 20, 2007 - the talks from the CSWA sessions at the AAS meeting in Honolulu have been posted - check under the "Meetings" heading